Crate



Oct. 27, 1959 A. L. \INHITOQN CRATE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 1, 195a/e 7 [r2 V55 T7 far flrf/z ur L, Wfi/ fan in, 47 E g.

A. L. WHITON Oct. 27, 1959 CRATE I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 1, 1958reinforcing structure incorporated therein.

United States ate CRATE Arthur L. Whiton, Evanston, 111., assignor toChicago Mill and Lumber Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation ofDelaware Application August 1, 1958, Serial No. 752,551 8 Claims; 01.229-23) This invention relates generally to crates, and morespecifically to an improved collapsible cratehaving a novel Although theprinciples of the present invention may be included in various crates,alparticularly useful appli{ cation is made in crates of the'drum type,and of the eral such crates are stacked on top of each other, there is atendency for the crates to twist and collapse, or to crush.

Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide animproved crate which has somewhat greater resistance to crushing," andhence a greater stacking strength than has beenheretofore provided. IFurthermore, when crates are handled in the full condition, the vertical"corners thereof'are frequentlysubjected to blows. While cornerstiffening, broadly speaking, is old, it is another object of theinstant'invention to provide an improved novel stiffening or reinforcingmeans which will render the corners of the crate resistive to somewhatgreater blows than could be applied heretofore without damage.

Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide cratereinforcement coupled with means for protecting the goods fromscratching or damage such as might arise from contacting internal cratereinforcement.

Yet another object is to provide a crate which maybe stacked on top ofother like crates, and which maybe picked up by a lift fork enteringfrom any onebf the four sides of the crate to be lifted.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects.

Figure l is a perspective View of the crate of this invention in itsassembled form;

Figure 2 is apl-an view, partiallybrokenaway, of the 1 wrap-around bodyportion forming the sidewalls of the crate; V r r Figure '3 is an'enlarged view taken along line III-+111 of Figure 2;

39, 40 are locatedon the inner surface of theflinermenr Figure 4 is a,plan viewof the platforin' assembly or I bottom portion of the crate;-

Figure 5 is a bottom orins'ide plan view assembly or top portion of thecrate;

Figure 6 is an end elevational View of the tubular body member in itsfolded'form ready for shipment or storage;

of the cover ice Patented Oct. 27, 1959 Figure 7 is an enlargedfragmentary sectional view of a lower corner portion of the crate shownin Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a crate such as shown inFigure 1 stacked on top of another crate such as shown inFigure l;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a modified form of crate incorporatingthe principles of this invention, and shown with the top flaps thereofopen to expose the cover member thereof to view; and t Figure 10 is anenlarged fragmentary sectional view generally similar to Figure 7,showing a lower corner of the crate of Figure 9. I 1

As shown on the drawings:

T he principles of this invention are particularly useful whenembodiedin a crate such as illustrated in Figure l,

generally indicated by the numeral 10. The crate includes a tubular bodymember 11 of rectangular configuration, a rectangular cover member orassembly 12, and a rectangular platform or platform assembly 13.

The tubular body member 11, as best seen in Figure 2, comprisespaperboard, such as corrugated board, and is here shown to bermade of asingle sheet of material, rectangular in form, and provided with eightverticalscore lines, such as indicated at 14, which lines 1-4 extend"for the height of the body member 11. The vertical score lines 14 definea series of side Walls or panels i5-1-a Between each adjacent pair ofside Walls, such as 15, 1 6,

there is afcorner panel 19 which also extends for the, entire height ofthe tubular body memberll The corner panels 19 are thus defined by apair of closely adjacent vertical score lines 14. A series ofhorizontal'scorelines 2tl23 together with a series of slits or cutouts24 jointly define a series of flap panels 2532; severally disposed atthe upper and'lower edges of the side walls 1545M, and integraltherewith. The tubular bodyimember l1 aiso includes a side flap 33 whichis integrally sefcuredto one of the vertical edges of the side wall 15 jof the corner panels, which in turn is integral with one As best seenbetween the side walls and d also'in Figure 3, each of the corner panels'19 provided'with a corner reinforcing means generally; indicated by thenumeral 34. Each of the corner reinforcing f means 34 includes a pair ofvertical cleats '35, 36, and a liner member of paperboard 37. Thevertical cleats 35 and 36 extend substantially for they entire. heightof the side walls 1518, the upper ends of the vertical cleats 35 and 36being disposed adjacent to the score lines 20 and 21, while the lowerends of the cleats 35, 36, are disposed adjacent to the score lines22,23 of the body member 11. The liner member 37'is provided with a seriesof score-lines 38-4-1 which extend yertically for the entire length ofthe liner member 37. The score lines 38 and 41 are disposed on the outersurface of the 'iner member 31 and are located to register with theconfronting edges of'the cleats 35, 36'.v The score lines ber 37 and arespaced from the score lines li and 41 so as to provide anintermediatep'ortion 42 which is disposed adjacent to the corner. panel19in parallel member 37 is secured at its outer. surface to theinwardlyf directed surfaces of the cleats 35, 36 arid is bonded thereto, preferablyby gluing. Thus the inwardly directed surfaces ofthecleats 3'5, 36 are covered and .are free of any me'tal which couldscratch any structure which is disposed within the crate 101 Thecorner'reinforcing as; i

sembly 34 may be secured as a unit to the interior of the tubular bodymember 11 by any convenient means, and is disposed as shown in Figure 2,wherein the vertical cleats 35, 36 are secured to interior vertical'edgeportions of the sidewalls 1518, slightly spaced from the corner panels19. The slight spacing is at least twice the thickness of the member 37.When the body mern ber 11 is bent to a tubular form, the portion 42buckles toward and against the adjacent corner panel 19, as best seen inFigures 6 and 7.

The flap panel 33 may now be directed toward the right hand edge of thesidewall 18, as shown, whereby the body member 11 takes ona generallytubular form such as shown in Figure 1. The tubular body member 11, ofcourse, may be collapsed and stored in a flat condition for shipment, asbest seen in Figure 6.

-' 'In this view, it is particularly apparent that the horizontal lengthof the cover panel 19 is no less than the combined thickness of thecleats 35, 36, plus twice the thickness of the liner member 37.Therefore, there is substantially no tendency on the art of the linermember 37 or on the part of the cleats 35, 36 to spring the adjacentside panels or walls apart. whereby the tubular body member 11 remainsin a flat condition. On the other hand, when the collapsed bodvmember 11is opened to a form such as shown in Figure 1. the attachment betweenthe sidewalls and the cleats 35, 36 acts to fullv open the cornerreinforcing means 34.

The rectangular platform assembly 13 includes at least two exposedparallel s aced skid members 42 on top of which there isdisnosed aclosing member 43 such as of corrugated board. On to of the member 43there is disposed a pa r of slats 44. The slats 44 are secured at eachend to the skid members 42 b any convenient means. thereby also securingthe cl sing member 43 therebetween.- The closing member 433s providedwith extensi ns on each side thereof. each of wh ch has a pair of scorelines. such extensions thereby eachcomprising a cl sin flan 45 wh chinterlocks at assembly with one of the flaps 29-32 At each of thecorners of the platform assembly 13, the slats 44 are angularlv cut ofiin a manner corres onding to the angle formed'by the corner panels 19.More si nificantly. however. t ere is provided a verticallv extendingsurface, such as 46 and 47 which is engageable with the liner member 37at the lower end of the cleats 35, 36. in a manner, wherein the slat 44op oses inward movement of one of the cleats in a first direction, andop oses movement of the other cleat in a direction at right anglesthereto. A similar structure is provided at each of the four corners ofthe platform 13.

Referring to Figure 5, itwill be seen that a similar structure isprovided for the cover member 12, except that lighter weight members maybe employed. and a brace or a skid may be omitted. The cover 12 includesa pair of upwardly directed exposed parallelspaced skid members 48, 48on which there is disposed a cover member 49, against which there isdisposed a pair of interior slats 50, 50. The slats 59 are secured tothe skid members 48 in any convenient manner, and thereby secure thecover member 49 also therebetween. The cover member 49 is likewiseprovided with a pluralit of closing flaps 51 which have score lineswhich enables the flaps 51 to interlock with one of the body memberflaps 25-28. It is to be noted that the skid members 42, 42 of the baseare at right angles to the skid ms hers 48, 48 of the cover assembly 12,one having the skids extending the short direction of the rectangularshape, while the other having the skids extending the long direction ofthe rectangular shape. The slats Sillikewise are provided withvertically extending external surfaces 52. 53 at each corner thereof.

To assemble the crate, the platform 13 is first disposed as shown inFigure 4 and the tubular body member 11 is opened to fit on the platform13. Of course, any

structure which is to be crated is preferably first secured to the slats44. The cover assembly 12 as shown in Figure 5 is then inverted so thatthe slats 50 extend into the tubular body member 11. The various flaps45 and 51 are then interfolded with one of the flaps 25-32 of the bodymember and a steel band 54 is secured thereabout.

Once the carton is so closed, a relationship between the various partsexists such as shown in Figure 7. It will be seen that the cleats-35, 36extend to the platform 13 and are supported in endwise relation by it,and more specifically are supportedby one of the skids 42. Further, thelower end of the cleats 35, 36 is backed up by the vertically extendingsurfaces 46, 47 which oppose inward movement of either of the cleats.Thus a blow given to the crates at a corner thereof is positivelyopposed. Usually, such blows will be generally normal to the surface,whereby a positive resistance to yielding is provided. Further, eventhough one of the cleats should deflect under the force of such a blow,its interior surface being fully covered by the liner 37 cannot damagethe structure in the crate. Since the skids 48 of the cover are at rightangles to the skids 44 of the base, crates 10 may be stacked on top ofeach other as shown in Figure 8 with a space left at each one of theexposed surfaces for the fingers of a fork lift truck to enter. Thisfeature enables a stack ,of crates to be unstacked from any one of thesides.

Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, it can be seen that the principles ofthis invention can be incorporated into other crates constructed inslightly modified forms.

In Figure 9, the crate 60 includes a tubular body member 61 havingsidewalls 6265 between each of which is disposed at corner panel 66. Acover member 67 includes twopairs of crossed slats 68, 69. The covermember 67 is similar torthe cover shown .in Figure 5, except thatthepaper member 49 has been omitted and the tubular body member 61 has beenprovided-with larger inwardly folding flaps 70. Thus when the flaps 70are closed, the cover. member 67 is disposed entirely within the crate.

The tubular member 61 is provided with cover rein: forcing means 34 suchas shown in Figure 3 and with vertical score lines such as shown inFigure 2.

A rectangular platform assembly 71 includes crossed slats 72, 73, whichare generally similar to the slat and skid members shown in Figure 4,but wherein the base member'43 has been omitted, and suitablesurrounding flaps integral with the tubular body member 61 have beenprovided.

As best seen in Figure 10, it will be noted that a substantiallyidentical corner is provided, except that a flap extends under the slat73 instead of over it as in Figure 7. As in the case of the otherembodiment, a similar structure is present at each of the eight cornersof the crate.

Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those versedin the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within thescope of the patent warranted hereon, all such embodimentsas -reasonably and properly come within the scope of my conplatform forfastening to the bottom of the structure; a

tubular body member of paperboard including four side walls and a cornerpanel intermediate each of said side walls; a cover member overlying thetubular body member; a series of vertical cleats each secured to one ofsaid side walls slightly spaced from one of said corner panels, andextending substantially the full length of said body member so that theyare supported by the platform at their lower ends and support the covermember at their upper ends; and a liner member at each of said cornerpanels, each of said liner members being secured to said cleats andcovering the inwardly directed surface of said cleats.

2. A crate for a structure comprising: a rectangular platform forfastening to the bottom of the structure; a tubular body member ofpaperboard including four side walls and a corner panel intermediateeach of said side walls; a cover member overlying the tubular bodymember; a vertical cleat secured to each interior vertical edge portionof said side walls slightly spaced from one of said corner panels, andextending substantially the full length of said body member so that theyare supported by the platform at their lower ends and support the covermember at their upper ends; and a liner member at each of said cornerpanels, each of said liner members being secured to a pair of saidcleats at one of said corner panels and covering the inwardly directedsurface of each of said pair of cleats.

3. A crate for a structure comprising: a rectangular platform forfastening to the bottom of the structure; a tubular body member ofpaperboard including four side walls; a cover member overlying thetubular body member; a series of vertical cleats each secured to one ofsaid side walls slightly spaced from one of said corner panels, andextending substantially the full length of said body member so that theyare supported by the platform at their lower ends and support the covermember at their upper ends; and a liner member at each of said cornerpanels, each of said liner members being secured to at least one of saidcleats and covering the inwardly directed surface of said cleats, saidliner members each having a portion disposed parallel to and inengagement with one of said corner panels.

4. A crate for a structure comprising: a rectangular platform forfastening to the bottom of the structure; a tubular body member ofpaperboard including four side walls and a corner panel intermediateeach of said side walls; a cover member overlying the tubular bodymemher; a series of vertical cleats each secured to one of said sidewalls slightly spaced from one of said corner panels, and extendingsubstantially the full length of said body member so that they aresupported by the platform at their lower ends and support the covermember at their upper ends; and a liner member at each of said cornerpanels, each of said liner members being secured to said cleats andcovering the inwardly directed surface of said cleats; said platform andsaid cover member each having a vertically extending surface abuttingthe inner surface of each of said liner members adjacent to the ends ofsaid cleats.

5. A crate for a structure comprising: a rectangular platform forfastening to the bottom of the structure; a tubular body member ofpaperboard including four side walls and a corner panel intermediateeach of said side walls; a cover member overlying the tubular bodymemher; a series of vertical cleats each secured to one of said sidewalls slightly spaced from one of said corner panels, and extendingsubstantially the full length of said body member so that they aresupported by the platform at their lower ends and support the covermember at their upper ends; and a liner member at each of said cornerpanels, each of said liner members being secured to said cleats andcovering the inwardly directed surface of said cleats; said platform andsaid cover member each being adapted to oppose inward movement of onecleat at a corner, and to oppose similar movement at right angles tosaid inward movement by a second cleat at said corner.

6. A crate for a structure comprising: a rectangular platform forfastening to the bottom of the structure; a tubular body member ofpaperboard including four side walls and a corner panel intermediateeach of said side Walls; a cover member overlying the tubular bodymember; a series of vertical cleats each secured to one of said sideWalls adjacent to one of said corner panels, and extending substantiallythe full length of said body member so that they are supported by theplatform at their lower ends and support the cover member at their upperends; and a liner member at each of said corner panels, each of saidliner members being secured to said cleats and covering the inwardlydirected surface of said cleats; two non-adjacent corner panels eachhaving a. horizontal length no less than the combined thicknesses ofsaid cleats at said corner plus twice the thickness of said linermember, and the cleats at said two corner panels each being spaced fromthe adjacent edge of the supporting side wall by at least twice thethickness of said liner member.

7. In a crate for a structure having a rectangular platform forfastening to the bottom of the structure, a tubular body member ofpaperboard, said member having a series of vertical score lines definingfour vertical side panels and a vertical corner panel intermediate eachof said side panels, and a cover member overlying the tubular bodymember, the improvement of a corner reinforcing means, said meanscomprising: a pair of parallel spaced cleats; and a liner member bondedto one side of each of said cleats, and having a portion extendingintermediate said cleats; the other side of each said cleats beingsecured to a pair of the side panels with said intermediate linerportion adapted to be disposed in backing relation against theintermediate corner panel, said cleats extending substantially the fulllength of the body member so that they may engage the platform at theirlower ends and the cover member at their upper ends.

8. A crate for a structure comprising: a rectangular platform forfastening to the bottom of the structure; a tubular body member ofpaperboard including four side walls and a corner panel intermediateeach of said side walls; a cover member overlying the tubular bodymember; a vertical cleat secured to each interior vertical edge portionof said side walls adjacent to one of said corner panels, and extendingsubstantially the full length of said body member so that they aresupported by the platform at their'lower ends and support the covermember at their upper ends; and a liner member of paperboard at each ofsaid corner panels, each of said liner members being secured to andcovering the inwardly directed surface of each of a pair of said cleatsat one of said corner panels, said liner members each having a portionadapted to, be disposed parallel to and in engagement with one of saidcorner panels; two non-adjacent corner panels each having a horizontallength no less than the combined thicknesses of said cleats at saidcorner plus twice the thickness of said liner member, and the cleats atsaid two corner panels each being spaced from the adjacent edge of thesupporting side wall by at least twice the thickness of said linermember; said platform and said cover member each having a verticallyextending surface abutting the inner surface of each of said linermembers adjacent to the ends of said cleats.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

